Ways to save money in the hobby.

[BigFeesh]

With the economy in the trash I've been thinking of ways to cut the costs of reefing .

-Trading corals instead of having to buy from vendors.
If you want expensive cOrals but really can afford price get a group buy/grow together


-Go LEDs to cut price on electricity and bulb changes.
Build DIY lighting (most of the time cheaper)

Please post other ways and ideas and we could maybe get a sticky!

 

[iap]

Stop doing water changes.

 

[Troylee]

Using energy efficient pumps and tossing the
Closed loops etc... Led lighting like you mentioned.... Topping off with kalk will save ya time and money...... Ummm using a fan instead of a chiller and my number 1 way is by downgrading aNd making it not only affordable but easier and more enjoyable.... Big tanks = marriage....

 

[BigFeesh]

Buying from Mr.corals
10$ section
Haha

 

[JackoChang]

Buying local, saves on shipping.
Trade, no $$ involved.
Buy yesterdays must haves.
Buy used equipment.
Use DIY 2-part (snow melt, baking powder, epson salt)
DIY supplements
Be a scavenger for tank break downs/down grades
Make your local wholesaler your friend.

 

[lps1212]

Great advice guys as I used some of those tips when I first got into the hobby because a week after gettin in I got layed off so those tips actually helped out especially tank breakdowns

 

[-drew-]

Build a wind turbine, solar panel, or water wheel generator mod for your house

 

[revhtree]

This is a warning. Please treat others with respect and if you're not going to be productive, don't post. Thanks.

 

[BigFeesh]

Thanks rev. And sorry about that. Thanks deleting the posts I was about to pm you anyways!

 

[wooboodoo]

I had the same problem last year, my coned bills was over $300 every month so I decided to do radically changes to save money.
First I got Red Dragon pump cause main pump is running 24 h/d, before I used to have 1200 gph pump with 160w power consumption now I have RD 4.5 also 1200 gpg but power consumption is only 49w...
Bubble Master 250 with two 40w sicce pumps (80w) is gone, has been replaced with Bubble King 200 mini which has one Red Dragon pump and only 38w...
Two 150w Giesemann NOVA II fixtures replaced with one Reeftech Prometheus led fixture and this I think is biggest change so fare!
I got some power meter from home depot to check how many watts metal halides using and when hooked up 150 w fixture the meter shows 184w ! So two halides 368 w !!!

Also some not that important changes... like auto top off from 110v to 12v, no more regular bulb in tank cabinet now I DIY 4x3w 12v LEDs, got controller for more accuracy temperature control (chiller/heater)...

Anyway after all changes I did so fare I'm paying now $140-160 for my electric bills ! And my wife is happy! even more than me...

Regards,
mark

 

[florida reef]

Don't buy the expensive epoxy or superglue that is sold for 4x's the amount of general products that are safe and work just as well.